Townsend discusses NM budget responsibilities

Following a legislative special session in October focused on New Mexico's state budget, Rep. James Townsend said New Mexico's job is to be responsible and "diversify the economy."

"Our state should live within its means just like our families do," Townsend said.

Townsend, who is running for reelection on Nov. 8 for the District 54 seat against Libertarian Freddie Nichols, represents Chaves County, Eddy County and Otero County.

Townsend said to improve child well-being, New Mexico legislators voted against cutting funds from the Children, Youth and Families Department following the murder of 10-year-old Victoria Martens in Albuquerque earlier this year.

"New Mexico can help children dramatically by producing jobs for parents that allow the families to be self-sustaining with pride and dignity. On top of that, our education system must improve. Children must attend school and parents must make sure their children attend and participate to succeed," he said.

A member of the New Mexico House of Representatives since 2015, Townsend said if reelected, he would like to continue to work on making New Mexico business friendly.

"Our state should repeal the prevailing wage law and we should exploit our ability to produce cheap reliable power," Townsend said.

A Carlsbad native, he has lived in Artesia since 1984. He attended both New Mexico State University and New Mexico Junior College in the 1970s.

Townsend worked for Holly Energy Partners and HollyFrontier Corporation for 27 years and retired as senior vice president in 2011.

"I understand business and how valuable they are to the state and how much the state should value their existence. Being retired allows me to serve my constituents full time," Townsend said.

Townsend and his wife, Paula Adcock, have two children and three grandchildren.​

DeJanay Booth can be reached at 575-628-5546, dbooth@currentargus.com and @DeJanayBooth on Twitter.